Cardinals Beat Nationals 4-3 Pushing Magic Number To 4 Games

ST. LOUIS - The Cardinals opened their last homestand of the season tonight with a 4-3 victory over the Nationals, moving their magic number to just 4 games over division foes Pirates and the Reds. It is now possible for the Cardinals to claim the NL central pennant by Wednesday. The Cards are now just a half-game behind Atlanta for the best record in the National League.

The Nationals started the scoring tonight against Adam Wainwright when Jayson Werth blasted a two-run homer in the 1st. Wainwright settled in after the first inning only giving up seven hits while striking out five batters in his 7 innings tonight. His strikeout total on the year is now at 214, a new career best for the Cardinals' ace pitcher.

Yadier Molina and Shane Robinson had a pair of RBI singles and the game was all knotted up at 2 in the fourth inning. Carlos Beltran blasted a two-run, 413-foot homerun off of Nationals starter Tanner Roark in the fifth inning to put the Cardinals on top for good. It was Beltran's 24th long ball on the year, he leads the team.

The Redbirds send Michael Wacha to the mound tomorrow night at Busch Stadium. A win against Washington will push the magic number to just 3 games.